Permanent magnet field coupling



May 17, 1949. s. KARAslcK PERMANENT MAGNET FIELD COUPLING Original Filed Sept. 6, 1940 u i w Patented May 1' 7, 1949 lUNIIED STATES PERMANENT MAGNET FIELD'COU'PLING Samuel Karasick, Great Barrington',"Masa:MaryA K. Karasick'executrix oifSamuell Karasick,.de

ceased Original application September 6,"1940,'Seria'1No.

355,663', now Patentl'No. 2,376,150dat'ed'lMay *15,1945. Divided and this application-April 27,1945, Serial No. 590,707

9 Claims.

.f This invention :relates to -holding devices of .the magnetic 'type and to magnetic coupling units This Aapplication is a division of appliicants `:application-,f'Serial No. 355,663, filedSep- `tember 6,'-1940 vnow Patent No. 2,376,150.

f The mainffeatureof. the .present invention relates to a' magnetic--holdingdevice having interposed between a permanent magnet and a support thereof, a. ux conducting part movable to alternate-positions'toppen andclose the magnetic circuit between themagnet and thesupport.

' Thenpresent invention isv especially applicable to a magnetic coupling arrangement, in which the huir-producingl member `or lfield is arranged torotate around astructure which is similar to the-rotor of an induction motor, of thesquirrel cage.I type. YThis rotor-:may be lof the common or ofthe double-deckedtype, depending on the torque characteristics. desiredof the coupling unit. .The :distinguishing feature of this coupling unit, as compared'to those already wellknown .in the art, comprises the use of permanent magnets as flux-producing members, inlstead of electromagnets, .together with a fluxcontrol circuit... In this arrangement, the reluctance of the path between a pole-piece and a magnet pole` isl increased by introducing an air ugaptherein, after which the pole-piece is caused to approach a` pole ofsan oppositey sign, whereby the uxes from thetwo polescrossing the air `gap to .the `pole-.piecaeifect a-state of magnetic neutralization therein. This is accomplished by shiftingfthe member..carrying the pole-pieces rotationally with respectltothehun-producing members, which shifting action is caused by any suitablemeans.v Thiscoupling unit obviates the necessityof a direct-currentsource orexciter of considerable capacity, formerly required.

v In the. drawings, Fig.. 1 is a vertical section through amagnetic couplingk unit made in accordance with. thepresent .invention taken substantially. on the line I--l loi Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is an end viewfof the magnetic coupling unit shown in Fig 1, a portion ofthe .coupling being broken 2 member, although it will beunderstood that either otthese'shafts may be..theidrivingshaft. and the4 like.

Vthey are cast Withthreaded-steelr bushings r"|611,

remaining .shaftx willsthen beA the: driven? shaft.

The driven-v.l shaft- '.'l 01 is.v fixedy to the..P bearingV J2.

' Thisfbearing is.y provided-with. afradially extending peripheral flange .l 3'. .toawhichv therey is .secured the centerportion of afcirculardisc .-I`4k having its f principali plane "extending-.iat rig-htangles .to the shaft l0. The otherwm'argin of-zthisndiscf-has fastened thereto :and.extending 'ati' righty angles therefrom, a ring of ferromagnetic material l 5. This ringdei'lnes a cylindrical' lcasing surrounding-'one endv of---the.. driving-.shaft yIl.l @n.the inner-surfaceof this ring,- there-is secured in radial arrangement, a'magneticassembly4 including spacedipermanent magnets IB of -.A-lnico, and 'spacedireturnyokes l1-"of soft iron -or'the To facilitate", mounting ofA the magnets,

therein :to areoeive 1 'threaded screws 'passing through the ring I 5. .1 The'. cross '.section! of these permanent magnets is; Ibest/ illustrated in.' Figs. 2 and 3; It will ibefzunderstood thatf'the' dimensions of..'thefvpermanent :magnetsand yokes .as well fas.. the: spacing. thereof'fbear. theisame relationfto each .otherfas the; corresponding :magnets and yokes inv the V'chucllz illustrated-12in Figs. 91to/13 inclusivek fof- `:application 355;663, nowpatent No. 2,376,150,1previously'` referred sto. In .fact, =the magnetic assembly. 'of the-present fcoupling unit may Ibe considered Yas 'analogous-'toi the magnetic assembly of' that rapplicationg if f this assembly is made into cylindrical formy with` thefbottom `plate on the .outside fofltheunithand the freeends of the magnets andyokes extending toward acom- Vmon center. A=circ`ular disk Yly'thruthe'cencured 'to' 'the free edge n of the "ring I Sito-'provide a closure therefor.

An lannular memberiI-S preferably made'of lnonmagnetic"mat'erialand bestfshowniin Fig; 4' correspondsto the top plate off'the chuck illustrated plication. Thisannular'memb'er insulatedly' supports 'laminatedtsoftiron poleapieces 20;"'the pole-pieces being equal inlength vandwidth to the corresponding' .dimensions of the inner surfaces of the magnets'l '..and return yokes il. The'spacing between'the pole-.pieces'is'equal to the spacing betweenthe ,magnets and lreturn yokes. Theouter surface "of the annular'memlber as wellas theinnersurfa'ces of'themagnets and pole-pieces are accurately ground to asmo'oth surface so thatY there is averysm'all air gap between these surfaces. 'F.Theann'ular member is provided at each bfits edges with aipluralty of pins 28 which function to rotate the member in a manner to be set forth.

The driving shaft I I has secured thereto on the portion thereof within the cylindrical ring, two circular spiders 22 and 23 in spaced relation. The margins of these spiders which terminate at the inner surface of the annular member have circular laminations of steel 24 secured thereto by suitable bolts 25. The outer cylindrical surface of these laminations which have been turned down after assembly to provide a smooth surfaced cylinder, is in close relation to the inner surface of the member I9, so that there is a very small air gap between these parts. The outer surface of the circular laminations are provided with transverse slots within which there are placed copper bars 21 or conducting material termed low resistance windings having a length equal to that of the pole-pieces. Thus the circular laminations with the transverse bars mounted therein provide a rotor construction similar to that of a squirrel cage rotor of the well known type. However, the present construction permits the air gap between the driving and the driven part of the coupling to be narrower than is customary in induction motors or in conventional magnetic coupling units.

The circular discs I4 and I8 are each provided in their outer margins with a plurality of arcuate slots 26 curved about the axis of the driving shaft through which slots there project the pins 28 extending from the edges of the member I 9. The disc I8 is provided at its center portion with an outwardly extending sleeve 29 surrounding the driving shaft I I. This sleeve has mounted therein suitable spaced bearings 39 within which the driving shaft rotates. The sleeve extends through and supports a collar 3'I which is normally spaced from the disc I8 by a coiled spring 32 surrounding the sleeve. The collar is provided with cam slots 33 inclined with respect to the surface of the disc I8. Each of these cam slots receives the free end of an arm 34 pivoted at its intermediate point 35 on the spider I8, the other end of the arm being connected to one of the pins 28 mounted on the annular member I9. A second collar 36 surrounding the sleeve is mounted in spaced relation to the first collar 3l with a suitable bearing 31 therebetween. A nut 38 engaging the free end of the sleeve 29 retains these collars and the interposed bearing in the relation shown. The two collars and their interposed bearing may be shifted along the axis of the driving shaft II against the action of the coil spring 32 by means of a bifurcated lever 39 pivoted on a fixed part 49 independent of the coupling unit. It will be understood that when the forked end of the lever is advanced toward the left in Fig. 1 to move the collars 3l and 36 against the compression of the coil spring, the arms 34 under the infiuence of cams 33 will rotate the annular member I9 with respect to the magnetic assembly. When the annular member I9 is rotated in this manner, no flux issues from the inner surface thereof. However, When the bifurcated lever 39 is released, the spring 32 moves the collars to the right (Fig. 1) and the cam slots 33 in the collar 3| cooperate with the arms 34 to rotate the annular member I9 in the reverse direction with respect to the magnetic assembly so that the full flux is produced therethrough. It will be understood that in positions intermediate of these extreme positions, partial flux will result.

It will be noted that the mass of the coupling unit constitutes a mass of sufficient rotational inertia to function as a motor fly wheel. If it is assumed that the bifurcated lever 39 is actuated by a conventional clutch pedal, when the operator applies force to the collars 3| and 36 by means of this pedal there will be no iiux at the inner surface of the annular member I9 so that the transmission gears (not shown) may be set as desired. It will be understood that these gears are disposed on the shaft II in the well known manner, as shaft II is the clutch shaft. Reference should be made to page 8, Figure 3 of Dykes Manual, 18th edition, in which the arrangement of iiywheel, clutch and transmission gears are shown. It will be understood that shaft II corresponds to the shaft between clutch and transmission in that gure. The operator may now speed up his motor either manually or under governor control until the speed of maximum torque results. However, no reaction occurs on the driven shaft II until the annular member I9 is properly positioned with respect to the rotating magnetic assembly which is effected by releasing the pressure on the collars 3I and 36. The flux increases gradually as the collars 3l and 36 move back to their normal position, that is, the position in which they are held by the coil spring 32. The rotating field from the rotating magnet assembly produces a torque on the inner member by virtue of its squirrel cage construction. In order to secure maximum utility the squirrel cage unit should preferably be of the double squirrel type to produce maximum torque or at least full torque at a slip equal to the speed of maximum torque of the motor. This unit specifically may be of the construction shown in the right-hand view, Fig. 4.14, page 112 of Electric Motors Industry, by Shoults, Rife and Johnson, published by John Wiley and Sons, copyrighted 1942 by General Electric Company. Fig. 4.9, page 108 of this reference further discloses the construction of a squirrel cage unit. The vehicle in which the coupling unit is used will accelerate with the motor at maximum torque until the slip speed between the coupling members is such that the torque is just sufficient to overcome resistance to motion.

As contrasted with the conventional friction clutch, this clutch can slip and yet transmit torque without destruction of any friction surfaces. rI`he energy released in the coupling while slipping appears in heat in the squirrel cage unit, and means may be provided if necessary to cool the unit such as by forming fan blades on the spiders 22 and 23, to blow air through the driven member.

As contrasted to the nearest analogous device, the so-called Daimler fluid flywheel, which is a hydraulic analogue of a squirrel cage motor, this device combines within itself both clutch and slipping coupling functions, whereas the fluid flywheel requires a conventional friction clutch. As compared to an electromagnetic coupling, the present device obviates the complications of an adequate source of direct current eld supply and the necessary slip rings therefor.

What I claim is:

1. In a magnetic device, a circular unit containing spaced flux-carrying members radially arranged therein, a second circular unit provided with iiux producing members, each member comprising a permanent magnet and a spaced part of soft ferrous material joined thereto to constitute opposite poles, the poles of said members being radially arranged in a pattern like that of the flux-carrying members, and means for relatively moving said units to bring said flux-producing members into contact with said flux-carrying members to develop a holding condition and being movable to a position out of contact therewith to introduce a high reluctance gap between said ux-producing members and flux-carrying members.

2. In a magnetic device, a circular unit containing spaced fiux-carrying members radially arranged therein, a second circular unit provided with flux producing members, each member comprisinor a relatively thick Alnico magnet terminating at one end in a relatively narrow soft iron tip and a spaced narrow part of soft iron material magnetically joined to the other end of the magnet, the narrow end of the magnet and the free end of said soft iron part constituting opposite poles, the poles of said members being radially arranged in a pattern like that of the flux-carrying members, and means for relatively moving said units to bring said iiux-producing members into contact with said ux-carrying members to develop a holding condition and being movable to a position out of contact therewith to introduce a high reluctance gap between said flux-producing members and said flux-carrying members.

3. In a magnetic device, a support comprising ferrous strip-like parts alternating with nonferrous strip-like parts, a first unit parallel to said support and comprising permanent magnets having poles arranged according to the pattern of said ferrous parts and spaced apart a distance approximately equal to the width of the nonferrous parts, and a second unit made of nonmagnetic material having iiux-carrying members arranged therein according to approximately the same pattern and the same spacing as said poles, said second unit interposed between said support and said first unit and having its members engaging the adjacent surfaces of the support and the first unit, said second unit being movable to bring its members into and out of registry with said poles.

4. In a magnetic device, a circular support comprising ferrous strip-like parts alternating with non-ferrous strip-like parts, said parts .being radially arranged in said support, a circular first unit in spaced parallel relation to said support and comprising permanent magnets having poles radially arranged according to the pattern of said ferrous parts and spaced apart a distance approximately equal to the width of the non-ferrous parts, and a circular second unit interposed between said support and said first unit, said second unit being made of non-magnetic material having flux-carrying members radially arranged therein according to approximately the same pattern and the same spacing as said poles, said second unit having its members engaging the adjacent surfaces of the support and the rst unit, said second unit being rotatable to bring its members into and out of registry with said poles.

5. In a magnetic coupling device, a pair of shafts in coaxial alinement, one of said shafts being a driving shaft and the other a driven shaft, a generally cylindrical hollow magnetic assembly mounted in coaxial relation on one of said shafts, said magnetic assembly comprising a ring of ferromagnetic material having permanent magnets and return yokes mounted in spaced relation thereon to project toward the common axis of said shafts, an annular member within said magnetic assembly and shiftable with respect to said magnetic assembly about said axis, said member having polepieces insulatedly mounted in spaced relation therein, the spacing between said polepieces -being equal to the spacing between said permanent magnets and yokes whereby said polepieces may be shifted into operative relation to the spaces therebetween, a rotor within said annular member secured on said other shaft in coaxial relation therewith, strips of conducting material lying in slots on the periphery of said rotor, the number of Asuch strips being substantially larger than the number of poles and having their ends at either face of the rotor connected by annular rings of electrically conducting material of low specic electrical resistance.

6. In a magnetic coupling device, a pair of shafts in coaxial alinement, one of said shafts being a driving shaft and the other a driven shaft, a generally cylindrical hollow magnetic assembly mounted in coaxial relation on one of said shafts, said magnetic assembly comprising a ring of ferromagnetic material having permanent magnets and return yokes mounted in spaced relation thereon to project toward the common axis of said shafts, an annular member within said magnetic assembly and shiftable with respect to said magnetic assembly about said axis, said member having polepieces insulatedly mounted in spaced relation therein, the spacing between said polepieces being equal to the spacing between said permanent magnets and yokes whereby said polepieces may be shifted into operative relation to the spaces therebetween, a rotor within said annular member secured on said other shaft in coaxial relation therewith, windings on said rotor adapted to produce a torque tending to turn said rotor in the same direction as the rotation of the cylindrical. hollow magnetic assembly when said assembly and said rotor are revolving with the rotational speed of the assembly greater than that of the rotor.

7. In a magnetic coupling device, a pair of shafts in coaxial alinement, one of said shafts being a driving shaft and the other a driven shaft, a generally cylindrical hollow magnetic assembly mounted in coaxial relation on one of said shafts, said magnetic assembly comprising a ring of ferromagnetic material having permanent magnets and return yokes mounted in spaced relation thereon to project toward the common axis of said shafts, an annular member within said magnetic assembly and shiftable with respect to said magnetic assembly about said axis, said member having polepieces insulatedly mounted in spaced relation therein, the spacing between said polepieces being equal to the spacing between said permanent magnets and yokes whereby said polepieces may be shifted into operative relation to the spaces therebetween, a rotor within said annular member secured on said other shaft in coaxial relation therewith, and tending to turn said rotor in the opposite direction to the rotation of the assembly whenever the rotational speed of the rotor is greater than that of the assembly and in the same direction.

8. In a magnetic coupling device, a pair of shafts in coaxial alinement, one of said shafts being a driving shaft and the other a driven shaft, a generally cylindrical hollow magnetic assembly mounted in coaxial relation on one of said shafts, said magnetic assembly comprising a ring of fer romagnetic material having permanent magnets and return yokes mounted in spaced relation thereon to project toward the common axis of said shafts, an annular member within said magnetic assembly and shiftable with respect to said 7 magnetic-assembly .about'sald axis.said member havingfpolepieees insulatedly".-mounted' mspaced relation .-there'm, the spacing I-between l`saiclJ-)golepieces 'fleeing `equaly tor the fspacing fbetweenfsaid permanentmagnetsandfyokes'wherehysaidpolepieces]y mayy loefshifted into yoperative:- relation? to the spaces therebetween, va rotor ",withinfsad an nulariwmember securedfon ysaid other'lshaftlin coaxial'relaton therewith, slots inthecylindrcal surface of the periphery of :sadfrotonflpairslcf electrical conductors lying radially fabovefeaeh atherin sadfslotaithe ends of: each `outer-cernductor being-connected t0y an .annularfrngzuf electrically. conducting materiaharici` 'the endsef each innen conductor beingiconnected toa second ring 'of electrical conducting zmaterial,-. the cuter set tef. conductors and' rings bengsofhigher: electrical resistance .than the i, inner. set.

pling f. employing permanent f magnets in :which the :effective :air gapbetween the permanent magnets ...and fthe `eleetromagrxetieally driven member is 'decreased by moving' cireumferentially .8 relative to :isaid umagnets, :an l annular member cnmposed of11cm-magneticr material xfami Vcentainingaferromagnetic l elements adapted `to engage the 1 .p'oles :lof said permanent magnets.

i .SAMUELKARASICK REFERENCES CITED "The'rllowzn'g references areof` record. -in the lefff f. this? "patent:

4'UNITED STATES l PATENTS Nmr'iber Y `Name Date 55912395 'Fay Oct. 12,'-1897 36695575 JBliss, -Mar.l2, 1901 $81.9;933 Schneider T-May E8, 1906 12259;'861 Henry Mar. '19, 1918 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country 1'. Date :3272;299 lGreatsBi'itain June 13, 1927 `.405x821 GreatirBritain "May 110,v 1934 A$391,794 "'Fralrlce. "Nov. S9, 11908 434205 Germany :Sept 20, 1.1926 

